horror movie trailer analysis

2. Name: the Devils Dolls
Director: Padraig Reynolds
Date: 27 June 2016
Name/ Date/ director

3. Length 2.07
Genre- Horror
Target audience- 18+ (UK)
ULR Link-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq
FnG0JemDw

4. “In the aftermath of the hunt for a serial killer, an ancient curse consumes a
city, causing a series of brutal murders and pitting a detective against the
clock to save his daughter's life.” (taken from IMDB)
The trailer starts off dramatically with the establishing shot of the ambulance
and police van, and later showing the shot of two people murdered and
covered in blood. Straight away the theme of horror is shown as it clearly
represents the idea of death and darkness. Likewise, throughout the trailer,
there was a series of events that was shown to be the most scary/ gruesome
parts of the film as it also helps to give the audience a slight idea of the main
concept of the trailer. Furthermore, the shots that have been presented weren’t
shown in an order and was sort of jumbled which was done to engage and
confuse the audience at the same time.
Narrative/ plot

5. There where a total of 12 character that where shown in the trailer, that of
which the main character where a small family of a dad, mother, and their
young daughter.There was also another women who knew about the curse
in the city and presumably helps them when they need her.
Pace
The pace of the trailer went some what like this;
•slow
•Fast
•Slow
•Medium
•Fast
•Slow
•Fast
No. of Characters

6. The music that was playing gin the background was a quote yet effective piece
of sound, since the amplitude/ sound of the bass, will increase at the part that’s
makes the audience jump and that worked well as a scare factor.There was
also, the effective use of silence, making the audience feel uncomfortable
throughout when not know what to expect after.
There was mainly non- diegetic music used and a sound bridge was also
common or simply diegetic sound being played at6 a scene to make the
audience aware and understand what was going on, or what the film is about.
Music

7. Production Companies
Worry Dolls Productions
Distributors
IFC Films (2016) (USA) (all media)
Studio Canal (2016) (UK) (all media)
Silverline Multimedia (2016) (Philippines) (theatrical)
IFC Midnight (2016) (USA) (all media)
Production company/ institutional
identity

8. In the trailer the main editing technique that was used was; jump cuts which
where done to make a dramatic point where the scenes may have gotten
intense.
Shot – reverse shot was also used to show the conversation between the
characters.
Cutting rhythm which was used in the middle end of the trailer to create
excitement since the editing rhythm shortens to produce an ncrease in
tention
Cutaway was also frequently used as well to show the bridging interucut
between two shots in the same scene
Transition/ Editing

9. “ you should have seen it before”
“ every heard of the name Henry Lynn Bail?... Serial killer”
“he was random and vicious”
“ help me please”
“ you got something that belongs to me… I have to have back that item”
“ she’s my little girl for Christ sake, did you see what she did?”
“ I can the darkness already growing in power”
These are only some of the dialogues that where said in the trailer, and it
clearly connotes the image of horror, as it uses the cliché phrases,
mentioning ‘ darkness’ ‘help me’ ‘serial killer’ etc…
Dialogue

10. Since the film has just been released, there haven’t been anything claiming
the USP of the film or any merchandise that has been distributed
USP ( unique selling point )

11. Butchers- the place smeared with blood and a symbol drawn from it and two dead bodies
shown on the ground, symbolising the image of death straight away. There was also Ariel
shot of a forest like area, where presumably the abandoned building was located, this can
be a representation of isolation. Furthermore, there was also a shot of an old house, which
wasn’t at all modern, but fit will with the location of the film. Looking into the whole theme
of old, there was also an old book being displayed, which is support of the narrative,
showing how this follows the basis of an ancient legend of voodoo dolls, and mentioning
voodoo dolls here were also several shots showing the voodoo doll, since the movie is
based around this, it was a clear obvious thought of it appearance.
Likewise, looking into the main conventions of a horror, it seems to be fairly typical sight to
see a weapon in horror movie, this was evident, where the main weapons that where
shown where; a knife, a gun, a chainsaw, a scissors(used as a weapon to stab someone) .
And with the representation of violence and deathly imagery, there was a clear use of dark
lighting being used to connote the dangers of these harmful objects.
Between the family that where targeted by the bad stuff, seemed to look like an anomaly
in comparison to the rest of the people in the small town, this was shown through the way
that they where dressed, behaved and in general, seemed to differ from the rest of the
characters.
Mise en Scene

12. The font used for this graphic isn’t anything that look at all sinister, however, what makes it
sinister is the background, whereby the clouded effect used in the back of the text, seems
to cover over the text where the word ‘Dolls’ is used. Likewise, the contrast between the
white text and the black background work complementary with each other, making the
title stand out more. Furthermore, there was also the image of the voodoo doll, which is a
clear representation of what the movie is based around.
Graphics

13. The main conventions that this trailer had followed, was the fact that it had
the theme of darkness, death and possession all involved, making this film
even more sinister and following the most common conventions of horror.
This can clearly be presented when there where the key objects of threat
being displayed, such as the knife, gun, and chainsaw.There where also the
sound of a female screaming, showing that she was a victim, which then
helps to support these stereotypes of women/ females, being vulnerable,
weak and helpless. In the establishing shot, there was blood being shown,
which clearly signals to the audiences that it may also a slasher movie,
likewise, the scene where an abandoned building was being shown, was a
cliché aspect to show entrapment and also helpless of the victim, since there
is no way for them to get help. Lastly, the target ended u being a kid, and
this is typical appearance of children, being in horror movies.
Conventions

14. The most obvious verbal and non-verbal signifiers where, the image of a the
voodoo doll, where by the whole film is based on the legend of a voodoo
doll, hence the appearance of the voodoo doll seemed inevitable, as it’s the
aspect of sinister in the film. Furthermore, there is also the objects of
weapons, where the main weapons that where shown where; a knife, a gun,
a chainsaw, a scissors(used as a weapon to stab someone) . And with the
representation of violence and deathly imagery, there was a clear use of
dark lighting being used to connote the dangers of these harmful objects.
There was also;
• Abandoned building
• Screaming
• Blood
• Creepy old lady
• A child who gets possessed.
Verbal / non-Verbal signifiers

15. From this trailer I have learnt, that sound as well as symbols and costume
are made to be very effective as it as a whole helps the audience understand
the genre of the fil, since if the codes and conventions of horror are applies,
it makes it clear to see what to expect.Through sound, it helps to make the
trailer itself all that more scarier, and helps to make the audience when the
sound increases at specific parts, and that’s what makes horror, horror.
Conclusion